Hay needle



Sept. 2, 1930. E. J. ANDERSON an NEEDLE Filed June 6, 1929 gmnntoc Patented Sept. 2, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ELI J. ANDERSON OF GORDON, NEBRASKA HAY NEEDLE Application filed June 6, 1929. Serial No. 368,818.

a will sever any heavy bodies, such as heavy weed stalks instead of being stopped thereby or turned in such a manner as to cause the needle to appear at the opposite side of the stack at a point other than that at which i it is expected to appear.

In needles of this character at present in use the penetrating point is in the form of an arrow or cone so that if for any rea son the needle is obstructed and it is necessafy to withdraw it great difliculty is experienced in withdrawing or shifting the needle and in addition the hay stack is torn up in such a way that large areas thereof are left exposed to the elements.

Another object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a needle having an elongated head tapered at each end so that if withdrawal is for any reason necessary no more difficulty will be experienced than is experienced in forcing the needle into the stack.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a needle having a head so formed as to provide a series of longitudinally extending cutting edges, preferably three, so disposed that the needle will cut its way through thick stalks or closely packed hay.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the present invention with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark or material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 shows the hay needle embodying the present invention in side elevation;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the head of the present needle;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

' Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the shaft of the present needle, which shaft is preferably of approximately in diameter and is preferably formed of cold rolled steel. At one end of the shaft is formed the head 2, which head as shown, is of elongated oval configuration and is formed to provide the'longitudinally extending arcuate cutting edges 3, preferably three in number, these cutting edges or blades being connected by a broad concave wall 4.

The body of the head 2 is formed integral with the shaft 1 and at its forward end the cutting edges are brought to a sharp point 5.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that with the needle head formed in the manner described having three relatively long radially disposed cutting edges the needle may be easily forced into a body of hay and directed therethrough to emerge at a desired point, the cutting blades serving to guide the head in a straight line and preventing the interference with its passage through this stack by any heavy stalks or other bodies.

In the event that a body in the stack is encountered which the needle cannot penetrate and it is necessary to remove the needle and start at a new point it will be seen that the retracting operation will offer no more difficulty than is offered to the movement of the needle into the hay, as the curved cutting edges 3 will as effectively cuttheir way through the stack when moving rearwardly as when moving forwardly.

At the end of the shaft opposite the head 2 there is formed an integral eye 6 to which may be attached a chain or cable which is drawn through the stack to remove a portion of the hay.

From the foregoing description it will be readily appreciated that with a needle of the character described the work of engaging a suitable chain or cable about a body of hay for drawing it away onto a carrier will be greatly expedited by reason of the fact that no difiiculty whatever will be experienced in threading the cable or chain through the stack at the proper point, when the needle herein described is employed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. A hay needle of the character described, comprising a shaft, a relatively long head at one end of the shaft tapering at one end to a point and at the other end tapering to a diameter equal to the diameter of and merging With the shaft, and radially projecting longitudinally extending cutting blades forming an integral part of the head.

2. A hay needle, comprising a shaft having an eye at one end, ahead of elongated configuration formed integral with the shaft at the other end, said head comprising a body having a plurality of radially directed blades extending longitudinally thereof, said blades having the edges of convex contour and joining at the forward end of the head to form a penetrating point, the rear portions of the blades converging toward said shaft, the head between the blades being formed to provide a transversely arcuate Wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELI J. ANDERSON. 

